Martin Forsberg was appointed dance director at Norrdans in autumn 2018. Born and raised in Härnösand, he has followed the company since its founding. Graduated from The Danish National School of Performing Arts in Copenhagen, Denmark, Martin has led an international career as a choreographer spanning the past 15 years.

 

He has worked extensively in both Sweden and abroad with a wide variety of works and companies. His past works include dance performances for children and young, adult and old – from contemporary dance through folk dance, to choreographic installations at museums. Martin runs the project-based company Fors Works in Copenhagen with producer, Marie Schulz. He has choreographed several pieces for large and small institutions around the world.

 

– Dancing is powerful yet delicate. It has the irresistible ability to trigger that special feeling of NOW. Dance can inspire and educate, nourish and explore through the silent act of movement.

 

Through his tenure as dance director, Martin wants Norrdans to enrich audiences with works that can be a “poetic refuge or a kick in the butt”. Contemporary dance and choreography is much more than ornamentation. Dance can take center stage in debates, shaking off energy and meaning. For Martin, the dance is carefree and challenging at the same time. As a spectator, you should make an active choice and let the dance touch you.

 

Dance is rarely demanding. It’s an offer to stop and embrace dynamic empathy. Dance doesn’t necessarily want you, it’s first and foremost you who must want the dance. This makes contemporary dance and choreography incredibly democratic and inclusive. But you have to make the decision yourself.

 

– I personally love when performing arts confuse or perplex me! My strongest experiences of dance and choreography have been times when I was exposed to the unknown. To me, the essence of art is that it adds shades to my reality and challenges the boundary between what I know and what I have the potential to understand.